The Magic are a favorite among our writers to rise into the East’s upper tier in 2025-26.
From time to time, NBA.com’s writers will share their takes on the biggest storylines and trends around the league.
Cast your early forecast: how will the Eastern Conference standings take shape by season’s end?
Steve Aschburner
- Cleveland
- New York
- Orlando
- Atlanta
- Detroit
- Milwaukee
- Miami
- Indiana
- Boston
- Philadelphia
It feels weird to list the NBA champions from 16 months ago and the East’s Finals representative in June so far down in the standings. But that’s the sort of havoc a couple of ruptured Achilles tendons can wreak on a conference. Boston’s and Indiana’s subtractions aren’t limited to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, either. Their big guys, Kristaps Porziņģis and Myles Turner, will likely shine elsewhere in the East and look down at their former teams. Up top, New York faces an NBA Finals-or-bust challenge, switching coaches after getting within two victories of the title round last spring. The Cavaliers face essentially the same pressure to take the big step this season, with eager crews in Orlando, Atlanta and Detroit pushing up for top seeds.
John Schuhmann
- Cleveland
- New York
- Orlando
- Atlanta
- Detroit
- Indiana
- Milwaukee
- Philadelphia
- Miami
- Boston
The Cavs finished 13 games ahead of the Knicks last season, sweeping the season series along the way. Cleveland should be the favorite to win the conference again. The Magic and Hawks should take big steps forward, though the Pistons could certainly climb into the top four. The Pacers feel a little like the 2019-20 Raptors, who lost their best player (and another starter) in the offseason, but still had seven returning players who had great chemistry and knew how to win (that group finished second in the East that season). There should be less drop-off in Indiana than there is in Boston. The Sixers, Celtics and Raptors (last team out) are the toughest teams to predict.
Shaun Powell
- Cleveland
- New York
- Orlando
- Detroit
- Atlanta
- Philadelphia
- Boston
- Milwaukee
- Indiana
- Miami
With Haliburton and Tatum either out for the season (or a good portion of it), this could be an uphill climb for the last two conference champions. That will inspire a next-team-up scramble and the Cavaliers seem more than up to the task. Cleveland is poised to win 60-plus games and grab the top seed, although the Knicks will stake a claim if the players adapt quickly to new coach Mike Brown.
After that, it’s a free-for-all, and a handful of games might separate No. 2-6. The Magic, Pistons and Hawks are anxious to duplicate what the Pacers did last season and pull a surprise. Meanwhile, the Sixers, with good health, could become rejuvenated and take the lead in that posse. Although the East isn’t as rich as the West, it could drip with suspense in its own way
Brian Martin
- Cleveland
- New York
- Orlando
- Atlanta
- Detroit
- Milwaukee
- Philadelphia
- Miami
- Indiana
- Boston
Cleveland and New York lead the way as the two returning 50-plus win teams that are not dealing with injured superstars and key summer departures (as Indiana and Boston are). Orlando, Atlanta and Detroit seem ready to leap into top-four contention in the East. The Magic and Hawks made major offseason moves, while the Pistons look to build off last year’s 30-win improvement.
Rounding out the top six guaranteed playoff spots is Milwaukee, a team that has finished top five in the East each of the past seven seasons. The Play-In teams were the toughest calls as the 76ers have top-five talent, but there’s no way to assume good health with them. The Heat have made three straight Play-In (and one NBA Finals), a streak that could continue this season. Rounding out the Play-In field are the two teams that represented the East in the past two Finals: the Celtics (2024) and Pacers (2025).
